Scientists develop implant material that destroys up to 98% of bacteria

Washington: Scientists from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST MISiS) together with their Russian, Czech and American colleagues have developed a new implant material that prevents post-surgical bacterial infections.

The material which incorporates
platinum and iron nanoparticles can destroy up to 98% of bacteria within 12
hours of implantation. The findings were published in Applied
Materials & Interfaces magazine.

Bacterial infections occur in 1-4% of cases after a planned
surgical intervention involving implants; in compound fractures, the likelihood
of their occurrence reaches 30%. If an infection occurs, reintervention is
often required. In milder cases, antibiotic therapy is carried out; during the
treatment, the patient’s body is subjected to tremendous stress. In addition,
pathogenic bacteria very quickly develop resistance to antibiotics, and many
people suffer from severe allergies to antibiotics.

NUST MISiS scientists and their
colleagues have developed a new implant material with metal nanoparticles,
which effectively inhibit the growth and spread of pathogenic
bacteria without any inhibitory
effect on lymphocytes or cells of the immune system.

“We have implanted platinum and iron ions into a matrix,
which is a TiCaPCON (titanium-calcium-phosphorus-carbon-oxygen-nitrogen)
biocompatible ceramic coating. As a result, metal nanoparticles several
nanometers in size form on the coating’s surface. A potential difference of
about 60 mV occurs between the nanoparticles and the ceramic matrix. When in contact
with the surface of the material, the bacterial membrane may be
destroyed”, Viktor Ponomarev, the lead author of the study and graduate
student at the Department of Powder Metallurgy and Functional Coatings at NUST
MISiS, said.

Besides, when the coated implant is sterilized using ultraviolet
radiation, a large number of free radicals are generated, which likewise lead
to the death of bacteria.

According to the authors of the study, at the test stage, the developed material destroyed 98% of bacteria in 8-12 hours, including Staphylococcus Aureus, Epidermal Staphylococcus Aureus, Escherichia Coli, and Klebsiella Pneumoniae. The scientists are currently considering tests of the obtained samples in vivo. Another promising application for the newly developed material may be the creation of water filters.